Preparation Goes Into Full Swing

With my due date fast approaching, approx 3 weeks, I wanted to assess all that we've acquired either through baby showers (thank you friends and family) or through our own purchases.  We didn't get to celebrate Baby Mac with Illinois based family and friends due to my work schedule.  Don't worry, though we will celebrate his arrival once he's here (look for something in November - maybe). 

Based on what I understand to be true about babies, the following are things we need to get sooner rather than later.  Any input would be greatly appreciated:

1. Functional Camera - I know it's not a must have but I do want one.  We're looking at the Panasonic G10 as a camera we can grow into.  It also has HD Video capability so no need for a video recorder. 

2. Stroller - Might need within the first month once we have errands to run.  In the end we'll have multiple strollers, one for every day use and one for running (you should have seen that coming).  I'll prioritize the every day stroller first.  The Chicco Cortina works with the baby seat so I'm thinking this is the one we want. 

3. First Aid Kit and Thermometer - Since his arrival will coincide with flu season, I'm thinking we're going to want/need many of the items in these kits to better understand anything he might be feeling.  S and I will also be getting flu shots this year since we will be caring for him while he's unprotected.  I've never gotten one in the past but I'm guessing it won't hurt. 

I did just order a diaper bag.  I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get one of the one from "Nest" but S swore he wouldn't carry a bag that looked like a purse.  So I'll have to get that one later.  So those are the only "Must Haves" that I can think of.  The remainder of the things on our registry are things that others have recommended or that I think might be helpful.

Uncomfortably Satisfied

I'm now officially grounded.  I won't be doing anymore traveling by plane, train or automobile for the remainder of my pregnancy.  The only car rides I'll be doing will be within the Metro area.  I'm now going to the doctor weekly which is a real reminder that we're almost there.  Less than 4 weeks to go and my gut tells me we're going earlier than the Oct 26th due date.  I guess we'll find out more on Friday.

Being home this week has been great after a week away.  Last night I went to the gym and was able to complete my spinning class which felt completely uncomfortable in the beginning but by the end it really did feel good.  I was very satisfied when I left the gym. 

This weekend was full of baby showers.  One for me hosted by S's side of the family which was a lot of fun and one for my girlfriend at home (2 hrs away).  At my shower, we got a lot of very important things that I know will get plenty of use.  I was so excited that my sister in law and nephew flew in for the party.  I love seeing them. My nephew is getting so big.  I can't even believe it.  He looks like such a little man.  I can't wait to get our boys together.  S and I are so fortunate to have two very loving families supporting us.  We're gonna need it when this little guy comes. 

Baby C - not such a baby anymore!

 

My girlfriend's shower was a lot of fun too.  We grew up together, going to catholic grade school.  Our birthdays are very close and now our little boy's birthday's will be even closer, she's due just 6 days after me.  She's way ahead of us in the preparation race.  You'll notice she's got a name picked out which we do not yet have.  :)  Baby Mac is starting to sound real good.  I know that dress doesn't make me look so good but when you're this pregnant, nothing does. 

On our way back from the shower, we stopped by my sisters to give her a birthday gift and spend sometime with my niece.  When we got there, Baby M was asleep and looking as angelic as ever.  I couldn't resist holding her.  She stayed this way for about 10 minutes then woke up and provided everyone with a little baby entertainment. 



It's weekends like this that make me realize that I might actually have the maternal instinct that I've been worried doesn't exist.  Every time I get around anything baby these days, I seem to get a little overly happy.  I can't wait to have moments like these documented with my own little man.  This week I'm definitely uncomfortably satisfied.



Good News

Today was the day we found out whether or not Baby Mac had been able to resolve his own kidney issue.  I head to the hospital a little nervous but when the technician calls me in, I'm really nervous.  I go in, sit on the table, a few minutes later she's taken the few pictures she needed to take then tries to give me the opportunity to see his face.  Turns out the little unnamed man doesn't want to be photographed.  He refused to move in a way that would give us anything more than a partial profile shot.  What I did see was that he seems to have some chunky cheeks and that he likes to suck his thumb already (I guess he gets that from me).  So after we're done with the photo shoot I ask the tech if the doctor would be coming in to explain the results. 


Tech: "I'm going to show him the pictures and if he things everything is normal than I'll come back in to tell you."  "I'll be right back."


So now I'm sitting in this dark room waiting to just here.."Everything looks great".  Instead, the door opens and the Doctor comes in with a resident in tow.  Oh great.  Now I'm really nervous.  


Doctor: "Well, we'd like to take another look.  Do you mind?"


Me: "No problem"  [Are you going to tell me what we're looking at?]


Then the doctor proceeds to squirt that jelly stuff on my growing belly but misses.  Thanks!  He's obviously is trying to make the resident think he's in charge.  He's pointing out various baby body parts to this young girl and she nods.  "Uh huh".    Then...finally..he says"Well, looks like there's still a little inflammation but it's within a normal range.  I wouldn't worry about a thing."


YEAH!!  Thank you...that's what I wanted to hear.  


So feeling good, I headed to my doctor for my 36 week appointment.  Now we're going weekly.     


I knew at some point they would start checking something other than the heart rate.  Well, I guess this is it.  The problem isn't checking, it's what I have to do to allow them to check.  Lately I'm wearing compression socks up to my knees, jeans that are barely staying up and tennis shoes I told myself I'm only tying once today.  So 5 minutes later, I'm finally ready for the checkup.  I don't expect any change or any progression so when she tells me I'm about 75% effaced.  What does that mean?  She tries to explain but it takes me googling it later to realize the ball is in motion.  Now how fast it happens is still to be determined.  I guess we better get serious about coming up with a name.

From One Blogger to Another

Turns out others are reading my blog.  Thanks for the nod!!


This is kind of like a "pay it forward" award. Once you win it you pass it on to other blogs you read on a regular basis OR those you've just discovered, loved and want to share with others!

Bloggers, to accept this award, follow these steps:

1. Post the award on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.
3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.

I don't think I read 15 blogs but here are the ones I like:

1. According to Nina
2. Lil Muse Lily
3. Multisport Mom
4. Elizabeth Waterstraat
5. Catching up with Jessica
6. So You Want To Do A Triathlon?
7. Cherelli

I Will Survive

Last week I mentioned that I'm missing certain things, primarily my ankles.  The swelling has gotten progressively worse.  I'm sure it doesn't help that I sit all day at work and squeeze into the same work shoes I did 8 months ago but I 'm not about to buy different shoes.  Yesterday it hit an all time high in terms of pain.  I couldn't sit or stand comfortably.  By the end of the day, I was done.  It must have triggered the emotional break down I had next.  At 8, while sitting at dinner with my coworkers (all male), it occurred to me that compression socks might be the answer to my swollen prayers.  So I sat and waited till we finished dinner and when we got back to hotel which is in the middle of no where, I took the keys and set off to hunt. 

• First stop, 9:00 p.m., Dicks....No luck.  But I'm not panicking.  I've got 3 more stores to try.
• Second stop, 9:10 p.m. Foot Locker...No luck.  Damn!  Ok, I've left the two best options for last.
• Third stop, 9: 15 p.m., Walmart...I've googled it on my iPhone. It's getting late, I'm getting fed up.  I take a left off the main road, I see NOTHING that resembles a Walmart.  I take another left, because google maps tells me too, and I find myself in the middle of a mobile home park with no lights, no other traffic, no nothing.  I was freaked out.  It's now 9:20 and I decided to give up on Walmart to try my last option..
• Target.I know where Target is if I can only get back there in time.  Did I mention they close at 9:30?  So at 9:25, I go barrelling into the parking lot in a full scale panic.  I don't know how I'm going to sit through another day without some sign of relief.  I go running into Target, when I say running, I mean wabbling fast, I hear the dreaded message..."Attention Target Shoppers...your Target store will close in 5 minutes.  Please bring your final purchases to the front."  OH MAN!!  Do I go straight and look in women's undergarments or right and look in medical supplies?  I try women's section....the have every type of sock, tight, and hosiery you could want but no "Compression" socks.  No I'm starting to cry.  Someone sees me and decides not to harass me about the store closing.  I go wobbling over to the isle where you'd find shoe inserts thinking they'd be there. NOTHING.  That's it.  I'm done.  I'm ready to just pack it in.  I go wobbling out of Target, crying and frustrated.  The thought of another work day adds to the disappointment. 

After getting back to the hotel and crying to S for a little while, I go to bed feeling completely defeated. 

Waking up this morning, I realize I just have to try to forget about it and get to work.  I do bypass the slacks and uncomfortable dress shoes and put on my jeans and tennis shoes.  Heading down to the lobby to meet the rest of my team, they quickly assess and realize that the last thing they want to do is say anything.  So we go to work and the day is ok.  It passes quickly then it's off to find the mysterious WalMart.  I find it in 10 minutes.  I find my coveted socks and head back to the hotel feeling like I've won.  Now let's just hope these things help.

So That Explains It

My family has always joked about my weak bladder and how I've visited every bathroom in the Midwest.  Well it's been beyond excessive yesterday.  I've almost had to stop on my way to work!!  So this is what WTEWE says about the situation:

"A rapidly growing brain makes your baby's head weigh more and that means more pressure on Mommy's bladder.Your baby is standing tall (so to speak) this week at about 20 inches and continues her steady weight gain (she’s about 5.5 pounds)."

Great.  I'm never going to make it 5 more weeks but for the sake of my nervous boss, I need to at least make it till we get home on Thursday.  I'm pretty sure he'd freak out if something were to happen.  Like I've said we're in Indy implementing a new project and everyone at this site has been so supportive of this pregnancy.  They have started calling him "Turbo" in honor of the system we're retiring today.  It's kind of cute.  It might stick.  We'll see. 

35 Weeks - Baby Brain Is A Strange Thing

I'm spending the remainder of my 34th and the beginning of my 35th week in Indianapolis implementing a new software system for a pharmacy site full of people that are excited to receive it.  I realize when I come on site how much I enjoy my job.  Is it stressful? Yes.  Do I have a lot of responsibility? Yes. But when I walk around this building and realize that everyone here is looking to me for answers, it motivates you to want to be there for them, to know everything there is to know and calm their nerves.  Do I know it all? No but I learn.

There was a time early on in my pregnancy where I wished maybe I could stay home with him, not necessarily full time but maybe part time.  There was a time where I felt like because that wasn't an option for our family that I was somehow being cheated but I realize that isn't at all what I want.  So much of who I am is my need to contribute in the ways that I do everyday at work.  Without that, I'm not me. 

Up until this point in my life, my priorities have been family, career and the ever present need to compete and challenge myself. What I'm starting to realize is that this little guy in my belly is going to add a entirely new dimension to all those things.

Pregnancy is amazing.  It's not just about the development of a child.  It's about the development of a mom.  I've come a long way in 8 months.  I've gone through every phase imaginable and it was painful at times, extremely.  But I'm there.  (It's like that StateFarm Commercial).  I'm ready for the role of "Mom", maybe not all the sleepless nights.  Am I still selfish? Yes and always will be to some degree and I think you have to be.  We will find a balance, we will have to.  Because for me, being a good mom for my son is about being the best person I can be and that includes, working hard and playing hard and being satisfied.

I'm Pretty Lucky..

Today was the first day of a 2 day work meeting so we all went out to lunch (something I rarely do at work).  When we got to the restaurant, I realized they were throwing me a surprise baby shower.  It was the sweetest thing.  It was something that they didn't have to do but it's very much appreciated.  I came home with over 450 diapers.  That should do us for a couple weeks.  :)  Not to mention some super cute onesies, socks, toys and additional baby equipment.  Thanks work buddies!!!


I also have great family is allowing us to borrow so many things that we don't have to buy.  It just seems like a more practical thing to do than to just go buy things for the sake of buying them.  Thanks M (sister in law) and P ( sister).  Little man is going to have so much fun growing up with such awesome cousins.  


I do think it's cute that they are all far more worried about my trip to Indy this week than I am.  I don't think there is any chance that this little guy will come early but I guess it's not out of the question.  My boss, who lived in Indy for a few years, has gotten the information for the hospital that his wife delivered his youngest son at, just in case.  I can only imagine what S would say if he got a call from me telling him I was in labor in Indy.  That would not be good for anyone.  I'm betting this nameless little man like his current home and isn't planning on vacating it anytime soon.  


I have started packing our hospital bags.  I guess I'll finish when we come back from Indy.  I'll be happy to know that's done.  Baby boy's is pretty much but mine is no where close.  Not to mention we don't have a diaper bag.  I guess I need to commit to one of those from the previous post and order it.  It's so hard to believe we're getting close.  I think I've really needed all these months to go through all the various stages of preparedness.  If I look back at my posts, I can almost plot them out although I might have backtracked a little somewhere in there but I can honestly say I'm ready to meet him.  I ready to see what he looks like.

Only 6 More Weeks To Go

I can't believe we're only 6 weeks away from meeting our little nameless boy. My uncle thinks we should auction off naming rights. I'm tempted since we can't seem to come up with one on our own. I guess I should break down and buy a baby name book.

At 34 weeks, I'm adjusting to sleeping on the couch and getting sleep intermittently. I'm adjusting to the constant swelling and the occasional morning sickness which I only seem to get on Sunday A.M. The picture you're about to see is of belly only. I'm sorry but it's painful enough to just take these but to post them too is brutal so I'm taking myself out and focusing on the belly.  It's so sad to look in the mirror and see what use to be your abs pulled and separated in ways you don't think you'll ever be able to fix.  It's so hard to believe there's a baby in there.

I'm about to go on my last business trip before baby and it's a long one. I'll be in Indy for the closure of the 34 week and the majority of the 35th. My doctor says it's ok but is grounding me in October. Luckily I do work with lots of nurses, pharmacists and other medically grounded coworkers so I feel comfortable being away.

I also met our little boy's pediatrician. I liked him but when you grew up around one of the best pediatricians it's hard not to look for faults. In the absence of my grandfather, I'll adjust to Dr. Jay Epstein. Luckily he has a sort of old school mentality that I'm comfortable with.

Oh My Gosh..I'm in love with this Diaper Bag

I'm shopping for a great diaper bag.  S wants a backpack which I can understand but I'd also like one that's a little bit more girlie.  So here are our options...

Nonbackpack First Choice -

Hudson by Nest

Nonbackpack Option 2 - Charlie by Timi and Leslie

Backpack

Baby Sherpa

Backpack 2

Dad Gear

Has anyone ever had or used one of these? 

33 1/2 Weeks is HARD

I'm tired all the time, I've been banished to the couch at night, my ankles seem to have been replaced with tree stumps and I'm pretty sure this kid is remodeling my midsection and adding an extra room on in the process.

I 've heard the last few weeks are uncomfortable but I'm getting seriously frustrated with my inability to even just sit comfortably.  This is what I feel like these days. 

I know, I should stop complaining because I'm going to b trade in one set of frustrations for another but at least I'll have something to show for it.  I'll be able hold the little soccer star.  Right now he just gets to have his way with my body which is so unfair. 

Even S is having to adjust to the fact that I can't seem to find any place in the house where I can sleep comfortably.  We're almost there.  I have to keep telling myself that. 

I also am starting to feel the effects of not having a viable outlet to release my need to compete in.  I'm finding myself trying to compete in pregnancy (i.e. Am I gaining more or less weight than other women? Am I working out more than the average 8 month pregnant lady?  Can I get all the pre-pregnancy tasks done before other women?).  I know, it's sick and twisted.  I just need a good race to train for. That will calm my nerves but that's not an option. 

For the time being I guess I'll just keep bobbing around. 

Well Damn!

Today was a day of mixed emotions.  I was excited because we did get to see our little man but it showed that he still has an "slightly" enlarged left kidney issue that needs to be monitored.  We have to go back in 3 weeks to see if it's changed.  What does that mean you ask?  It means his ability to urinacorrectly might be jeopardized.  If he's born with this issue, he may have to have surgery to correct it.  Poor kid could have his kidneys and male parts go under the knife in the first 24 hours of life.  I'm a little bummed by this.  I was told it had nothing to do with what I was doing or eating or anything but you can't help but feel a little like it's your fault.

It was nice to see him.  By all accounts, he's about 4 lbs 13oz.  At 33 weeks, that's pretty spot on.  He may hit a birth weight of between 7 and 8 lbs.  

What you're looking at below are the only two shots where we could actually make out body parts.  The first picture is of him holding on to his foot.  The second is an almost profile shot.  It looks like he's got some little chunky cheeks and a button nose but I might just be making something out of nothing.  His head is down, buried in my right pelvic bone.  It made getting any shot of his face tough.

From Mom's Little Running Buddy

We met a great potential child care provider.  The only issue is that she lives a little further away than I would like but I'm willing to drive the extra mile to know that he's going someplace I'm comfortable with.  We have one more person to interview but I do feel like we've got a much better grasp on childcare now.  I was stressed about it for a while.

Tomorrow We Get to See BabyMac

Tomorrow is another Doc Appt and Sonogram number 2. I'm looking forward to seeing Baby Mac again even if it is black and white and 2D. I'm hoping that his kidney issue has resolved itself and they will be able to estimate his approximate size and weight. In my WTE book (What to Expect), Baby Mac is weighing in somewhere around 4 lbs but you never know how accurate that is.  Based on how uncomfortable I am these days, I'm guessing that's not too far off.  Just sitting isn't real comfortable. 

It's hard to believe next month S and I will be parents but I'm looking forward to the day that I get to wear my regular clothes again.  It will be like shopping in my own closet but that doesn't stop me from window shopping.  I love fall fashion and these are some of my favorite looks.  I'm hoping to be able to wear SOME of these this year.  Did I mention, I'm loving stripes?

Ann Taylor - Look 1

Ann Taylor - Look 2

Gap - Look